Opening night frustration for Saints as they fail to make Sale pay

Chris Boyd's side shipped four tries to hand Sale a bonus-point 32-23 success, despite the fact the hosts had little of the ball after racing into a 17-0 lead inside a dominant opening 20 minutes.

The Sharks were continually penalised by referee Ian Tempest, giving Saints chance after chance to launch attacks in the opposition half.

The men in the striking new white away kit did score twice, through Tom Collins and Piers Francis, and they edged back to just six points down with six minutes to go.

But Saints gave away a penalty from the restart after Harry Mallinder's successful penalty, and Rob du Preez did the rest to deny Boyd's men a losing bonus point.

Sale had gone ahead after just three minutes as Teimana Harrison was penalised at the breakdown and AJ MacGinty did the rest from the tee.

It wasn't long before the Sharks showed their teeth with ball in hand as Ben Curry sent the onrushing Akker van der Merwe through a gap, and the hooker brushed off as many as four attempted tackles on his way to the line.

MacGinty added the extras and Saints were 10-0 down inside just six minutes.

It went from bad to worse soon after as George Furbank was forced off for a HIA after a clash of heads, bringing Mallinder into the action for his long-awaited return.

Sale had the chance to extend their lead when Paul Hill popped up at a scrum, but MacGinty sent the penalty wide of the right post.

However, Saints were soon under pressure again after Henry Taylor and Mallinder failed to gather and eventually Sale were too strong as van der Merwe offloaded brilliantly for Daniel du Preez to dive over.

MacGinty added the extras to make it 17-0 inside 20 minutes, but Saints mounted a strong response, booting a penalty to the corner and rumbling over.

Collins was the man who got it, the wing scoring from a maul for the second time in as many weeks after his effort against Worcester Warriors in a pre-season friendly last Friday.

James Grayson did well to add the extras from close to the touchline and Saints were really starting to stir, playing the game almost exclusively in the Sale half.

Grayson missed a penalty after Mallinder was tackled off the ball by Jono Ross and Saints were unable to capitalise on their good spell before being forced to scramble just before half-time to stop Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

Saints won another scrum penalty just before the break as their pack continued to get on top at the set piece, but Sale were able to hold on to their 10-point lead at the interval.

But Saints cut the gap at the start of the second period as Collins charged down an attempted clearance and the forwards got to work, winning a penalty that Grayson slotted.

Sale finally woke up from their slumber a couple of minutes later, putting some phases together before MacGinty lofted a pass out wide for Simon Hammersley, who spun inside and scored.

MacGinty missed the conversion and Saints were desperate to regain their momentum quickly.

They did just that, applying more pressure in the home half, but a lineout was deemed not to be straight and Sale escaped from their own 22 unscathed.

But Taylor, who was really showing up at the breakdown, won Saints another penalty, allowing them to put the squeeze on again.

However, Sale held out again, stopping Alex Mitchell, on for Taylor, getting the ball away from the back of a lineout drive and keeping their 12-point lead intact.

But after van der Merwe was penalised at the breakdown, Grayson kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to nine points with 20 minutes to go.

Saints still had hope but it seemed to be extinguished as Nick Auterac, just on, was beaten by a show and go from MacGinty, who slipped through the net to score his side's bonus-point try.

The fly-half also converted before Sale skipper Ross was sin-binned, paying the price for an accumulation of penalties from his side.

And Saints took advantage almost immediately as, with a penalty coming from a scrum close to the posts, Mitchell did well to release Francis, who scored in very tidy fashion.

Grayson converted to cut the gap to nine points and it was down to just six when Mallinder took over kicking duties to slot a penalty.

But Sale responded immediately as Saints were penalised seconds after receiving the kick-off, and Rob du Preez notched the kick to seal the win and leave the away side frustrated.

Sale Sharks: L James; Solomona, S James, van Rensburg, Hammersley (Yarde 66); MacGinty (R du Preez 62), de Klerk (Cliff 62); Morozov, van der Merwe (Langdon 62), Oosthuizen; Wiese, JL du Preez (Phillips 62); Ross (c), B Curry, D du Preez.

Saints: Furbank (Mallinder 7); Tuala, Proctor, Francis, Collins; Grayson (Dingwall 70), Taylor (Mitchell 55); Waller (c) (Auterac 60), Fish (Marshall 60), Hill (Franks 60); Moon, Ratuniyarawa (Ribbans 60); Isiekwe, Wood, Harrison (Tonks 40).

Referee: Ian Tempest